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WASHINGTON TEKKITORY: I 



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SOIL, CLIMATE, PRODUCTIONS 



COMPILED BY 



Chairman of the Board of Immigration. 



j OLYMPIA 



PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE WASHINGTON STANDARD, 



Aind Genef^al Resources, 



TVTHS. A_. H. H. STUAET, \ 



PUBLISHED BY ■{) 

J (J 

AUTHORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE, I 

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1875. 



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WASHINGTON TEEEITOET : 



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SOIL, CLIMATE, PKODUCTIONS 




COMPILED BY 



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PUBLISHED BY 



AUTHORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE. 



OLYMPIA : 

PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE WASHINGTON STANDARD. 
1875. 






tmmmmys of Jfmimjjwtion 

OF 

WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 



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J^on. p. j3. Hastings, : Poj\tTownsend. 



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PREFACE. 



This work has been compiled for the purpose of aiding immi- 
gration, by describing the great natural resources of our Terri- 
tory — its soil, climate, minerals, etc. 

Its facts have been drawn from personal correspondence and 
conversation with persons living in all parts of the Territory, 
from published correspondence of disinterested people and from 
the excellent work of Messrs. Murphy & Harned, " The Puget 
Sound Business Directory," the Northern Pacific Railroad Com- 
pany's publication, " The Settler's Guide" and the Walla Walla 
Immigration Society's pamphlet. The statistics of the Territory 
were principally furnished by the Territorial Auditor, the Hon. 
J. M. Murphy. 

It is believed that the method of particularly describing each 
county by itself will give to the intending immigrant a better 
idea of the Territory as a whole, than a more general description 
as by this means he may select his locality for the business or oc- 
cupation he may desire to follow. 

The great need of our Territory is earnest men and women 



IV PKEFACE. 

who are not afraid or ashamed of honest work and if this little 
book compiled in leisure liBursf may aid in bringing a healthy- 
emigration from the older States to our Territory, its object will 
have been accomplished. 



t 



WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 



GENERAL SKETCH. 

Washington Territory, in the north-western portion of the 
United States, extends through nearly eight degrees of longi- 
tude, covering about three hundred and sixty miles of the fron- 
tier of British Columbia, and has an average breadth from north 
to south of nearly four hundred miles. It has an area of 79,128 
square miles. Allowing for the waters of Puget Sonnd and the 
mountainous districts, there are 35,000,000 acres of timber, prai- 
rie and bottom land open for settlement; of these, 20,000,000 
are covered with timber; 5,000,000 are rich alluvial bottom, and 
10,000,000 acres are prairie and barren land. 

The Territory is divided into two divisions. naturally by the 
Cascade Mountains, which run north and south parallel with the 
Pacific Coast, in 45 degs. west longitude. These divisions, which 
are of unequal proportions, differ in soil, climate and topography. 
That portion lying east of the Cascades, embracing 56,213 square 
miles, is known as Eastern Washington. The great natural 
feature, of this section is the Columbia River, which enters the 
Territory in a northern line at 41 degrees, west longitude, and 
pursues a westerly and southerly course for four hundred miles, 
until it reaches the 46th degree of north latitude, when it deflects 
sharply to the west, forming for about three hundred miles the 
boundary between the State of Oregon and Washington Terri- 



6 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

tory. This noble river has great commercial advantages, fine 
scenery, and can be made useful in irrigating some of the barren 
plains adjacent to it, thus causing them to produce in abundance 
grains and grasses. It receives in its course several rivers which 
traverse this section, the principal ones of which are the Snake, 
Walla Walla, Winachee, Okanagan, Spokane, Klickitat, and 
■others of less importance. Its principal tributary, the Snake 
river, receives the waters of the Palouse, Clearwater, Tucanon 
and many minor streams. These rivers have an aggregate length 
within the Territory of eight hundred miles. The whole -of 
Eastern Washington may be denominated one vast, unbroken 
prairie, for from the southern boundary of the Territory to the 
Spokane river, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles, the 
only prominences to be seen are the ilopes of the mountains, 
which are covered with evergreens. The surface is generally 
high, rolling and irregular, with occasional plains. North of the 
Spokane, the characteristics of the country undergo a decided 
change, the balsaltic formation giving way to the slate, quartz 
and limestone, and the surface breaking into hills and valleys, 
covered with a good supply of various kinds of timber. This 
valley, known as the Spokane, lies between the 46th and 47th 
parallels; it is unfit for cultivation, the soil being a light sand, 
capable of producing nothing but sage brush and a few patches 
of bunch grass. The Walla Walla valley in the south-eastern 
portion embraces one million acres of good arable land, capable 
of supporting a large population. Land in this valley com- 
mands from $5 to $40 per acre, as it is useful for either agricul- 
tural or grazing purposes. Grain is raised in large quantities, 
the average yield being very high. Vegetables and fruit are 
raised in profusion and of excellent quality. Beef, wheat, wool 
and hides are exported from Walla Walla to Portland and San 
Francisco, and its fruits and vegetables find a ready market. 
There is agricultural land enough in Eastern Washington to sup- 
port a large population, yet its great feature is the extensive 
grazing ranges which exist in the Walla Walla, Palouse, Kliki- 
tat and Yakima valleys. These ranges are covered with a pro- 
fusion of bunch grass, which retains its nutritious qualities 



k 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 7 

through the winter, upon which the cattle thrive the year round. 
In severe winters, about one year in every eight or ten, stock 
must be fed and sheltered. 

The principal industries of Eastern Washington is stock rais- 
ing, a market being had in British Columbia, Western Wash- 
ington and Oregon. Large quantities of wheat, flour and wool 
are annually shipped to California, the Sandwich Islands and 
Europe. Though the country is not heavily timbered, yet it has 
a good supply of cottonwood, alder, pine and cedar, which grow 
upon the margins of rivers and upon agricultural lands. The 
climate of this section is very mild for its latitude. In the Walla 
Walla Valley the average temperature for Spring is 52 deg. ; 
summer, 73 deg.; in Autumn, 53 deg.; in winter, 34 deg. The 
average rain fall is 18 inches. Thus the climate is similar to 
Baltimore, Maryland. In Colville valley, further north, the 
winter is several degrees colder, approaching that of ISorthern 
Indiana or Ohio. 



WESTERN .WASHINGTON 

Includes that portion lying between the Cascade Mountains 
on the east, the Paeific Ocean on the west, the Columbia Biver 
on the south and British Columbia on the north. It extends 
about four degrees of latitude and three of longitude. Its north- 
ern limit is the 49th parallel and its southern is the mid-channel 
■of the Columbia River in latitude 45 deg., 33 min. It has an 
area of about 22,915 square miles, the principal part of which is 
heavily timbered with magnificent forests of fir, pine and cedar. 
Its great commercial artery is Paget Sound, which lies between 
the Cascade Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. It covers an area 
of about 2,000 square miles and has a coast line of 1,600 miles 
and is 120 miles in length. It is navigable for ships cf the larg- 
est model, there being neither rocks or shoals from one end to 
the other. Vessels can find anchorage within a few hundred feet 
of the shore in from five to twenty fathoms of water and storms 
are unknown to it. 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

Colnmb,a Chehahs and Pnget Sound. The Columbia basin as 

tf recedes from the river bottoms is high and broken; its soil is a 

Z If The ' 7 d „ l0am ' We " adaPted t0 "» P r ° duCtion of 
grasses The r,ver bottoms are exceedingly fertile, but they are 

xposed to overflow during the done freshet, which often Les 
the Columbia from ten to twenty fret. Along the Cowlitz Val- 
ley there are large tracts of fertile land suitable for grazing or 
agriculture. North of the Columbia is the Cbehalis basin, which 

mbraces two thousand square mi.es of the best land in the Ter- 
ritory This ,s called the garden spot of the Territory and ex- 
tends from Gray's Harbor to the Cascades. The Cbehalis river 
which is navigable for light-draught steamers a distance of sixty 

getting their produce to market. This basin varies in width 
from fifteen to fifty miles; it is composed principally of rich bot- 
tom lands and back of this lies hills and table lands, useful for 
grazing and cultivation. A large body of rich land also lies 
along the Willopah river, an important stream emptying into 

aboTTom ay ' ThePUget S0Und basi " " - b --g 
about 1,200 square miles, has a varied soil, portions being gravel! 

Iy, .but along its numerous water courses rich alluvial deposits 
exist, lbe basin ,s supposed to be one vast field of coal, as crop- 
ping have been found in almost every locality where it has been 
sought for It is bountifully supplied with excellent rivers and 
streams, which empty into the Sound, offering unusual facilities 
for internal nav.gation, as many of them are navigable for small 
steamers for several miles from their mouths. 

The productions of Western Washington arc hay and the 
grams and fruit common to a temperate climate except corn and 

,s Tc to f "? raiS f ° n,J ™ faV '° red '° Califo - No -™trv 

is better for cereals and fruits, especially berries, which grow in 

great pr„f„ sl o„ m any of the varieties being unknown in the East- 

abundantly, and from their peculiar excellence and size find a 
ready market m Sau Francisco for foreign exportation. Though 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 9 

the summers are comparatively dry. drouths are unknown, as are 
also destructive insects. 

The climate of Western Washington is of very even tempera- 
ture. There are really but two seasons, the wet and the dry; 
the former beginning in November and lasting until April, and 
the latter occupying the remainder of the year. The average 
temperature for the wet season is 39 degrees; fur the dry, 63 
degrees. Occasionally for a few days in summer the thermome- 
ter marks 90 degrees, but the nights are always cool. 

Lumber and coal are the principal articles of export. There 
are sixteen lumber mills on the Sound engaged in its production, 
having a capacity of from 30,000 to 100,000 feet each, per day, 
while at Seattle, Bellingham Bay and other points, numerous 
coal mines are open and many thousand tons are being shipped 
to San Francisco yearly. It is estimated that 300,000,000 feet of 
lumber are manufactured annually in our Territory, valued at 
$3,000,000. Ship building is carried on extensively, and no 
country in the world offers greater facilities for this business than 
the Puget Sound basin. The exportation of fish is also destined 
at no distant day to become a prominent business, for fish of 
many varieties and excellent quality abound in the waters of the 
Territory, and the rich yielding fishing grounds of the north are 
more convenient to the Territory than any other part of the Uni- 
ted States; the climate is better fitted for curing and drying 
than any other part of the Pacific Coast, and finally, shipping 
can be built cheaper on the Sound than elsewhere on the Conti- 
nent. 

The population of the Territory is estimated at 36,000, of_ 
which 12,000 are in Eastern Washington and the remainder in 
Western Washington. Except in Colville Valley, there are but 
few inhabitants in the north-eastern part of the Territory, but 
settlements exist in nearly all parts of Western Washington. 
The school and school laws are excellent and the Territory offers 
educational facilities which are very superior, considering its lim- 
ited population. A Territorial University is located at Seattle, 
and the towns have excellent public and private schools. The 
roads of the Territory extend to all portions of it where settle- 



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10 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

ments have been made. The Northern Pacific Kailroad, it is 
hoped, will be completed from one end of the Territory to the 
other in a few years, and this, when done, will open communica- 
tion with the different sections and afford a much needed means 
of transportation for the products of the interior to a good mar- 
ket. 



HEALTHFULNESS OF CLIMATE. 

The equable temperature, combined with the invigorating 
breezes from the Pacific Ocean, makes the Territory one of the 
most healthy localities in the Union. In comparing the mortal- 
ity lists, it will be seen that Washington shows the least number 
of deaths. The rate of mortality in Arkansas is one person out 
of every forty-eight; Massachusetts and Louisiana, one out of 
every fifty-seven; Illinois and Indiana, one in eighty-seven; Kan- 
sas, one in sixty-eight; Vermont, the healthiest State on the At- 
lantic slope, one in ninety-two; California, one in one hundred 
iind one; Oregon, one in one hundred and seventy-two, and 
Washington Territory, one in two hundred and twenty-eight. 



PRODUCTIONS. 

The productions of Washington Territory are as varied as the 
soil and climate. Among the first may be classed timber, coal, 
cereals and fruit. The Walla Walla and Colville valleys are 
peculiarly adapted to the growth of wheat. Seventy or "eighty 
bushels have been raised to the acre, but the average yield is 
about thirty-five. Corn is also raised here and peaches, which in 
Western Washington grow only in scattered localities, attain in 
Eastern Washington a large size and good flavor. The exten- 
sive grazing ranges of Walla Walla, Palouse and Yakima Val- 
leys are covered with bunch grass, and on this, thousands of cat- 
tle, sheep and other domestic animals feed. Western Washing- 
ton produces all that the eastern section does except corn and 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 11 

peaches, the climate not being warm enough to ripen these 
The fruit trees bear earlier here than in the East, and their pro- 
ducts are superior, being large and juicy. Small fruits of all 
varities grow in profusion, and large quantities are annually 
shipped to the States further South. The cranberry is the most 
profuse of the berries natural to the country, patches occupying 
an area, in some localities, of from one to five square miles. 
Grapes do not grow here in any quantity, on account of the cool 
nights. The humidity of the climate is favorable to the produc- 
tion of grasses, which attain a height unknown on the Atlantic 
seaboard. As the cold, even in the most severe winter, is of 
short duration, these grasses flourish the year round, affording 
sweet and nutritious feed for cattle at all seasons, and this fact 
renders the daiiy business a very profitable one. The butter of 
this Territory has an almost national reputation for its density 
and flavor. Vegetables, too, attain a size and abundance scarce- 
ly creditable. It is by no means an uncommon occurrence to 
gather from 500 to 1,000 bushels of potatoes per acre. Onions 
will average 800 bushels on selected ground; turnips from 700 to 
1,000 bushels; parsnips and carrots about the same, and cabbage 
yields upon such land, twenty thousand pounds to the acre. 



THE AVERAGE RAIN FALL 

In the Puget Sound basin is forty inches; at Cape Disap- 
pointment, near the mouth of the Columbia river, 108 inches, 
and at Cape Flattery, at the mouth of the Straits of San Juan 
de Fuca, 130 inches. 



COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES. 

The commerce of the Territory is rather limited, owing to the 
sparseness of its population, the want of rapid means of com- 
munication, and the non-developement of its resources. The 
exports are lumber, coal, wheat, flour, barley, oats, fruits, horned 



12 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

cattle, horses, sheep, hides, wool, furs and fish. Of these the 
principal one is lumber and in this an extensive trade is carried 
on with California, South America, the Sandwich Islands, China 
and Australia. There are sixty mills in the Territory engaged 
in its manufacture, and of these, sixteen are located on Puget 
Sound. The latter export the principal portion of their pro- 
duct, the remainder only manufacturing to supply the local de- 
mand. The Territory is now the chief lumber mart of the Paci- 
fic coast, and as the rivers are opened up and population increases 
the trade must become enormous. Along the banks of many of 
the rivers emptying into the Sound there are large tracts of excel- 
lent timber, which can be rafted at small expense to tide-water. 
The next leading article of export in Western Washington is 
coal, which is shipped from the mines at Bellingham Bay, Lake 
Washington, and many others, which are being opened with great 
rapidity and promise an enormous yield. This coal is principally 
of a bituminous nature, though prospectors in Puyallup valley and 
Green River,, claim to have found fine deposits of anthracite coal. 
The mine at Lake Washington yields about two hundred tons 
per day, and sells at eleven dollars per ton in San Francisco, 
where it is principally shipped. The exports of this mine alone 
amounts to between three and four hundred thousand dollars 
yearly. The mine at Bellingham Bay is the most extensive in 
the Territory and is capable of supplying any quantity required 
for the trade of the Coast. It nowyields one hundred and twenty- 
five thousand tons annually. A splendid quarry of blue sand- 
stone is also worked at Bellingham Bay, but not to its full capa- 
city. Another quarry of gray sandstone lies near Port Town- 
send, and several others of fine quality may be found in different 
parts of the Territory. The principal exports of Eastern Wash- 
ington are flour, wheat, and the various grains, cattle, hides, 
wool and fruit, but no statistics can be gathered of their value 
which must be very large. The exportation of canned and 
smoked salmon from the fisheries along the Columbia river and 
at other points, is very heavy and promises soon to become one 
of the greatest industries in the Territory. The product of the 
eight canning establishments on the Washington Territory side 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 13 

of the Columbia River for 1875 was 147,500 cases containing two 
dozen two-pound cans each, and several minor fishing posts 
shipped about 20,000 barrels. This business employs a large 
number of hands and pays a handsome profit to those engaged in 
it, as the expenses are very insignificant when compared with the 
gross returns. An extensive trade in oysters is carried on between 
Shoalwater Bay and San Francisco and Portland. The ship- 
ment is estimated to be as much as 100,000 baskets a year, and 
as the wholesale price of this bivalve is one dollar per basket, the 
value of the exports of this business alone are $100,000. Large 
quantities of a specie of sardine, which ascends the Cowlitz river 
late in the Autumn, are also caught and shipped to Portland, 
beside sturgeon, which are shipped largely in the Fall. The total 
exports of the Territory will probably reach six millions of dol- 
lars per annum, while the imports do not reach more than half 
that sum. 

The manufactures of this Territory are extremely limited, and 
it may be said to have scarcely any, notwithstanding its splendid 
water power, its profusion of timber and extensive coal fields. 
With the exception of lumber, there is no other leading product 
manufactured. A few tanneries and door and sash factories, a 
few furniture factories and a foundry or two exist, but these are 
not sufficient to supply the local demand. The former business, 
which would pay well, as hides are cheap, might be started in a 
dozen places, and everything manufactured would find a ready 
market in San Francisco. There is but one woolen mill in the 
Territory, situated at Dayton, in Columbia County, which man- 
ufactures 200,000 pounds of wool per year, to the value of be- 
tween $50,000 and $60,000 yearly. With ample water power 
on any of the principal streams, wool in large quantities, such 
enterprises all over the country would pay large returns on the 
necessary investment. The only iron works in the Territory, are 
small shops at Seattle and Port Madison, on Puget Souud, not- 
withstanding the fact that the large number of mills and steam- 
ers owned here have repairing enough to keep many of large size 
employed. As a consequence, much of the repairing is done in 
San Francisco, Portland and Victoria which should be done with- 
in our own borders. 



14 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 



SHIPPING. 

The shipping interests of the Territory are constantly increas- 
ing. Ere many years shall have elapsed, Puget Sound will be 
the ship building mart of the Pacific Coast, as it possesses un- 
equaled facilities for such business. Its forests of fir, pine and 
cedar extend from the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, 
an area of about 40,000 square miles. Many of these trees have 7 
an altitude of three hundred feet and a diameter of twelve feet, and 
yield 800,000 feet of lumber. The yellow fir, which grows on 
the Pacific Coast from the 42d to the 54th parrallel, is used 
principally for the construction of vessels, as it is the most dura- 
ble and strongest timber on the Coast. Experiments made with 
this wood in the dock yards of Toulon, France, prove it to be far 
superior to any other for masts andVspars. The report made of 
it states, that " the principal quality of this wood is a flexibility 
and tenacity of fibre and exceptional dimensions, strength, light- 
ness and absence from knots." This report is true in every par- 
ticular. The fir used will often furnish spars one hundred and 
fifty feet long, devoid of sap or knots, and planks ranging from 
sixty to ninety feet in length, can be procured with facility. It 
also makes most excellent ship frames, knees, spars and holds 
fastening longer and better than the acidulous oak. Many of 
the finest river steamers and sea-going vessels on the Coast have 
been built of this wood, and they have proven as staunch as those 
made of the famed oak. The yellow cedar is another valuable 
timber for ships. The Indians make their canoes of it, as it 
fine grained, flexible and dense. It makes excellent ship decks. 
Its usual height is about one hundred and fifty feet; its diameter 
from three to four feet. In 1871, the Territory owned 91 sailing 
vessels of 20,509.15 tonnage; 24 steam vessels of 2,019.59 ton- 
nage. In 1872, sixteen vessels were built aggregating 679 tons. 
In 1873, ten vessels were built with a capacity of 1,052 tons. In 
1874, twenty vessels were built with a carrying capacity of 4,350 
tons. 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 15 

MINERALOGY. 

No complete geological or mineralogical reports having been 
made of the Territory by a competent scientist, the abundance 
and variety of the minerals are comparatively unknown. Quartz 
bearing a small quantity of gold, has been found in several local- 
ities and a few placer mines have been worked to a small extent, 
on the tributaries of the Columbia River and near Fort Colville. 
Traces of silver, lead, iron and copper have also been found, but 
their extent has not yet been tested. In coal, however, the Ter- 
ritory is very wealthy; the whole of the Puget Sound basin is 
supposed to be one vast coal field, and wherever it has been pros- 
pected, rich developments have been found. All the coal discov- 
ered has proven to have good heating power, and an engineer of 
many years experience has stated that he preferred the coal of 
this Territory to any other found on the Coast for puposes of 
steam. Washington has been appropriately termed the " Penn- 
sylvania of the Pacific." 

FORESTS. 

Washington Territory is unquestionably the timber land of 
the Pacific Coast, about two-thirds of its area being covered with 
the most magnificent forests on the Continent. The shrubbery 
and flora of the Territory are also abundant, and many species o 
the latter unknown to the Atlantic Coast are found here. First 
among the varities of wood are the coniferous trees, which are 
most abundant. Of these the red and black fir, stand promi- 
nent not only in profuseness but utility. The foliage of the fir re- 
sembles the Canadian white spruce, but the leaves are larger. 
It is rather coarse grained and liable to shrink, but its adaptabil- 
ity to bear rough weather makes it good lumber. It is also very 
resinous, and this makes it excellent fire wood. The yellow fir 
if limited to the country between the Cascades and the Coast 
Ranges. Its foliage is darker and denser, its branches shorter 
and it is finer grained and more elastic than the other firs. The 
black spruce grows on marshes and tide-water lands and in ap- 



16 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

pearance it resembles the Norway spruce. It does not grow so 
tall as the fir but it is often eight feet in diameter. The wood is 
very strong and tough, which makes it useful for spars and masts. 
The Oregon cedar is found throughout the country. Its diam- 
eter ranges from ten to fifteen feet. J3eing light, soft and dura- 
ble it is used extensively for rails and shingles. It is exported 
largely. The hemlock spruce is also found here in various locali- 
ties, but nowhere does it form a forest of itself. It grows to a 
height of one hundred and fifty feet with a diameter of from 
six to eight feet. The Oregon yew resembles the European yew 
and generally grows in damp soil. Its wood is tough and elas- 
tic and is used by the Indians for the manufacture of bows. It 
is about fifty feet high and from one to two feet in diameter. A 
species of pine grows on the edge of sandy prairies and along the 
sea beach and attains a height of fifty feet and a diameter of two 
feet. The spruce is also found along the Sound. The yellow pine 
grows to majestic proportions in Eastern Washingon. The white 
pine is found along the Sound, where it is used for lumber. A 
species of arbor-vitas grows along the Straits of Fuca. The oak 
grows in several localities, but where it approaches the evergreen 
it is crowded out and stunted by the towering firs. It seldom 
grows over fifty feet high and three in diameter and is inferior to 
the principal species in the Atlantic States. The maple grows lux- 
uriantly. It is different from any Eastern species and is the most 
beautiful of its family in North America. It is frequently eighty 
feet high and attains a diameter of six feet with smooth bark and 
pale, green leaves from six to twelve inches in breadth. Its wood 
is superior in beauty of veining and is capable of high polish. Su- 
gar has been made from its sap, and may yet become an important 
product. The vine-maple grows twenty-five to thirty feet high 
and a foot through, and is used largely for fuel. Two species of 
alder are found here, one of which attains a height of sixty feet. 
The wood being white and soft is good for carving or furniture. 
The Oregon ash inhabits moist, sandy soil or river banks. It is 
larger than the ash on the Atlantic Coast and is light and elastic. 
The dogwood grows principally between the Cascade and Coast 
ces, and the wood is tough and strong. The beautiful laurel 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 17 

tree is found on the Straits of Fuca and on the gravelly banks of 
the Sound, but is not found west of the Coa9t Range. It at- 
tains a height of forty feet and a diameter of two feet, and is 
very valuable owing to its strength, heaviness aud capacity to re- 
ceive a brilliant polish. There are three species of poplar, the 
most abundant of which is the aspen. Several varieties of willow 
grow along the river banks, but only two attain the size of trees, 
they being generally about thirty feet high. The wild cherry 
grows in several localities to the height of thirty feet, but is but 
little valued. The crab-apple, in many localities, form orchards 
on the prairies. Its presence is an indication of good soil. The 
wood is hard and tough and the fruit well flavored. A birch is 
common about the Straits of Fuca, and a species of the buck- 
thorn, which grows thirty feet in height and is found in ravines and 
on mountain sides. It has no special value as a wood. The 
mild climate and humid atmosphere causes the trees in this Ter- 
ritory to grow with more rapidity than on the Eastern coast, and 
to bear their fruits earlier. The fohaceous trees assume their 
Spring garb and are as gaily decked in March as their kindred of 
the East in May. 



FLORA. 

Four hundred species of plants, which are indigenous to the 
Territory, have been collected, but these do not embrace one- 
fourth of the number, for no collection has been made of the al- 
pine and sub-alpine flora. All the plants growing in the valleys 
have been found as high as the snow line on the mountains, di- 
minished, of course, in size. The floras of Eastern and Western 
Washington are dissimilar, owing to the differences in soil and 
climate. Of the four hundred varieties collected in this Terri- 
tory, about one hundred and fifty are indigenous to the prairies. 
The Western portion of the Territory has the largest share of the 
flora, but many of the Eastern are exceedingly fragrant and bril- 
liant. The principal Spring flowering plants commence sprout- 
ing early, and are as far advanced in February as their kindred 
B 



18 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

on the Atlantic coast in May. The sandy prairies along the sea 
beach contain many varieties of plants not found elsewhere in the 
country. If Persia deserves the name of the land of roses, 
Washington Territory is entitled to the name of the home of 
flowers, for they spring up in every spot where they can find 
growing room, from the loftiest Cascades to the gloomiest re- 
cesses of the forests. 



FISH. 

The fishing grounds of the Northwest coast are the most pro- 
lific on the Continent, and the variety of fish they contain is on 
par with their extent. Whale are found from Washington Ter- 
ritory to the Arctic Ocean. She principal salt water fish used 
for the table, such as cod, halibut and sturgeon, are numerous 
along the coast to the extreme northern limit of Alaska, while 
salmon and trout of fine quality are in all the rivers and streams. 
Of the principal species of fish peculiar to the Territory, the sal- 
mon holds the first place in numbers and commercial value, the 
Sound and the Columbia and their continuous waters and trib- 
utaries fairly swarming with them in the spawning season. 
There are twelve varieties of this fish known from the spring sil- 
ver salmon, averaging twenty-five pounds in weight, to the sal- 
mon trout, which weighs about five pounds. Beside the salmon 
family, there are other exceedingly edible varieties of both fresh 
and salt water fish, among which is the Puget Sound cod. This 
weighs four or five pounds and is of excellent quality. The rock 
cod, a fine table fish, bites freely at a bated hook and makes good 
fishing. A fish known as the torn cod, about the size of a trout, 
is found at certain seasons. Two varieties of the perch are found 
here, the golden-barred perch and the viviparous. The carp is 
also abundant but comparatively worthless. Herring of excel- 
lent quality enter Shoalwater Bay, in immense schools, in June 
and are found throughout the summer in the Sound and the 
Straits of Fuca. Another specie of fish very abundant is the 
celebrated anchovy, which are taken in large numbers on the 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 19 

flats of Shoalwater Bay during the Summer. The sturgeon, 
turbot, skate, chub, killy, plaice and stickleback can be found 
in the Sound. Halibut of large size are found in the Straits and 
along the northern coast. With the fish we may mention the 
mollusca and cretacea, which are very abundant. Of the former 
there are eighty species, the most important of which are the 
oyster, clam, razor-fish, mussel, quohog and periwinkle. The 
former shell-fish is cultivated extensively at Shoalwater Bay and 
shipped largely. It may also be found at the mouth of Hood's 
Canal and Nisqually river, and one or two other localities. The 
clam is found in all the salt waters of the Territory and is used 
extensively as an article of food. There are twelve varieties of 
the crutacea in Puget Sound and Shoalwater Bay, the most im- 
portant of which is the crab, lobster and craw-fish. The shrimp 
is found in a few places, but it does not attain the size of its kind- 
red further south. It will be seen that the advantages of the 
Territory over any part of the Pacific Coast, for the prosecution 
of the fishery business are many and very apparent. 



ANIMALS. 

The zoology of the Territory is as extensive and varied as its 
other products. Not only are the animals numerous, but many 
of them are strangers to the country east of the Rocky Moun- 
tains. The Territory is a paradise to the hunter, for in every 
jjortion of it, it is a matter of choice which he shall pursue. In 
enumerating the animals we shall give the black bear the first 
position. It is known to the Indian by the name of itsoot, and 
is found throughout the wooded portions of the Territory, where 
it subsists upon berries and roots. His flesh is excellent, and he 
is the only variety of this family that is found in the Territory, 
except an occasional straggler of the grizzly specie, found east of 
the Cascades. The cougar is found extensively. Large numbers 
are killed annually on account of its depredations on stock. It 
is the only member of the feline race which takes voluntarily to 
water, when desiring to cross a stream. Two other animals of 



20 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

this specie, which are abundant and destructive to the farm- 
yard, are the red-cat and the American wild-cat. They live 
principally on birds, field mice, etc. Of the wolf there are three 
species, the gray, dusky and prairie wolf or cayote. These are 
very numerous from the Cascades to the Eocky Mountains, but 
west of the former range the dusky wolf is most abundant. The 
cayote is found principally in Eastern Washington. Five spe- 
cies of the deer iamily are common. Of these the elk is the larg- 
est. It inhabits the heavy timbered sections from the Cascades 
to California, and is plenty in Coast Range. Numbers of them 
are found near the large rivers, in the winter season, when driven 
from the mountains by snow. The Virginia deer is found along 
the borders of the prairies, but the black-tailed deer is the most 
numerous, found wist of the Cascades. The red deer is frequent 
on the coast. The mule deer is found east of the Cascades and 
a specie of Albino deer is found on Whidby Island. The moun- 
tain goat and big-horn sheep are inhabitants of the Cascade 
Mount lins, and it is said that in jumping from a high place he 
alights on his horns, none the worse for the leap. The beaver 
and the otter are very plentiful, the first on the minor streams 
flowing from the Cascade Mountains, and the second on the 
coast. There are six varieties of the fox. The red hare is abun- 
dant, also,/the black-footed racoon. The mole, weasel, mink, 
pine marten, pole-cat, badger, several species of squirrel and the 
yellow-footed marmot, abound. An animal known as the swellel 
by the Indians, about thirteen inches long, of a reddish brown 
color and a short tail, has an extensive range from the Cascades 
to the sea coast. It lives in colonies, in burrows, and subsists on 
berries and roots. Indians use its flesh for food. The pouched 
rat is abundant on the gravelly plains. The wood rat is common 
and the musk rat is found round the lakes and streams. 



BIRDS. 

Like the quadrupeds, the birds of the Territory are numerous. 
There are nine kinds of hawk common to the country. The bald 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 21 

or white-headed eagle is the most numerous of the falcon tribe, 
and is a constant resident. The osp'rey is also abundant in the 
summer season. Of the owl family we have the horned owl, the 
mottled owl, the short-eared owl, the long-eared owl, the gray 
owl, the saw- whit and the pigmy owl. Several of these are con- 
stant residents. There are seven species of woodpecker of var- 
ious sizes and plumage. They are very numerous. The most 
common of the humming birds, is the red-backed, which arrives 
in April and tarries until Septemper. The goat-suckers, swifts, 
nighthawks, kingfishers, kingbirds and pewees, blue jays and 
magpies, are abundant. The various species of thrushes, wrens, 
robins, wagtails, warblers, swallows, martins, larks, finches, spar- 
rows, linnets, orioles, blackbirds and sprikes are numerous. The 
raven and fish-crow are a constant inhabitant of Puget Sound, 
and the nut-cracker, another of this family, frequents the Cas- 
cades. The band-tailed and common dove frequent the central 
portion of the Territory. Those excellent sporting birds, the 
grouse and pheasant are very abundant, of which there are five 
species of the former. The grouse inhabit the highlands and the 
pheasant the marshes and swamps. Quail have been introduced 
into the Territory, but their destruction is at present prevented 
by law. The sage hen is found in Eastern Washington, and the 
plumed partridge, but the latter only in small coveys. The 
acquatic and wading birds are very numerons. There are four 
varieties of the crane and four species of the plover. A bird pe- 
culiar to the northern portion of Puget Sound is the oyster- 
catcher. There are two kinds of turnstone, ten of snipe and two 
of the phalarope. Of the swan there are two species, which are 
found extensively on the Columbia River and the various lakes 
during the winter. There are three specimens of the wild goose, 
which are excellent eating. Brants are common, ducks in almost 
numberless quantities, pelicans, cormarants, albatross, gulls, 
loons, kittiwakes, grebes, auks and puffins are numerous. Many 
of them have fine plumage. 



22 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

REPTILES. 

The Territory is comparatively free from reptiles, and a cu- 
rious fact is, that in Western Washington there is not a poison- 
ous reptile of any kind. Kattlesnakes are met with at the top 
of the Cascade Mountains, thence easterly, hut none approach to 
the west. There are a few lizards, salamanders and toads. The 
garter snake and a small headed striped snake, both harmless, 
are sometimes seen. The entire extent of the ophidions in this 
country is not more than six or seven species, most of which are 
harmless. 



MOUNTAINS, 

The most marked topographical feature of Washington Ter- 
ritory is its magnificent, snow-clad mountain ranges. The prin- 
cipal of these is the the Cascade Range, an extension of the 
Sierra Nevada Mountains, which follow the coast northward from 
Lower California until they are lost in Briti.di Columbia. This 
range rivals the Rocky Mountains in the altitude of many of its 
peaks. It is the dividing line between Eastern and Western 
Washington. The other is the Coast Range, not so high as the 
former, but its rugged and many-peaked outlines, covered with 
perennial snow, are visible from all portions of the Sound and 
add a charm to its scenery. These mountains are covered with 
great forests, of fir to the snow line. Ranging from the north 
are the following snowy peaks of the Cascade Mountains: Baker, 
with an altitude of 11,100 feet; Rainier, 14,444; St. Helens, 
9,750; Hood, 14,000; Jefferson, 10,200; McLaughlin or Pitt, 
11,000. The highest of these, Rainier, is conspicuous both in 
Washington and Oregon. The Coast Range follows the coast; 
it is generally a region of hills, peaks and ridges, rising from a 
a few hundred, to six or seven thousand feet. Its highest peak, 
bearing the classical name of Mount Olympus, has an altitude 
of 8,100 feet and is the most conspicuous of the range. These 
two ranges have a varied character, and some of the peaks give 



—^ 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 23 

occasional indications of ther volcanic origin, by spirting columns 
of smoke. Another range, the Blue Monntains, form the west- 
ern boundary of the Snake river region. From the Columbia to 
Fort Colville, it is interrupted by level tracts, but north of this 
place is a range of heights which extend west to the Columbia 
river and may be considered a part of the general chain. The 
Peaks Mountains may be numbered with the preceecling, as they 
lie west of the Rocky Mountains. The elevation of the Blue 
Mountains is from eight to nine thousand feet, but near Walla 
Walla it decreases to five thousand feet. These mountains are 
the source of many rivers and streams which water the Territory 
so generally and thoroughly. 



HARBORS. 

The Territory is admirably supplied with harbors, the safest 
and best in the world. The whole of Puget Sound may be called 
one vast harbor, land-locked and secured from storms by the 
mountain ranges which environ it, and deep enough for the larg- 
est ship to float. All the harbors on the Sound are of a semi- 
circular form, and vary from two to eight miles in length and 
from one to six miles in breadth, and all have broad entrances, 
bold shores and when a ship enters one, she is as safe as if she 
were in a pond. On the coast, the first harbor north of the 
mouth of the Columbia river is Shoal water Bay, so named, on 
account of the shallowness of the water at low tide. It is the 
receptacle of several streams, the largest of which is the Willo- 
pah. It is fifteen miles long, has an average width of three 
miles and a half, and is situated in latitude 46 deg., 36 min. and 
45 sec, north, and 124 deg. west from Greenwich. The next 
harbor is Gray's Harbor. Its entrance is between Point Hanson 
and Eld Island, and here a heavy serf is always breaking, so that 
without a pilot, it is not always safe for vessels to enter. The 
Copalis, Chehalis, Tyso, Chinois and Humptolups rivers empty 
into it. Of these, the largest is the Chehalis, which is navigable 
for sixty miles by light-draught steamers. Neah Bay, on t^e 



24 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

Straits of Fuca, is the first harbor inside of Cape Flattery. It 
is a mile and a quarter long and has the same breath of entrance, 
but it is somewhat protected by a small island on the straits 
side. During a westerly wind it is exposed, and a heavy swell 
rolls in, but no other winds effect it. A village of the Makaw 
Indians is located here. Clallam Bay, situated twenty-five miles 
east of Cape Flattery, is semicircular in form and two miles 
wide. Good anchorage can be found here. Port Angeles, east 
of the preceeding, is an excellent harbor, when once inside it, 
but it is difficult to leave without the favor of wind and tide. 
Eight miles from the last is New Dunginess Bay, a good harbor, 
having deep and safe anchorage, and safe from all the storms ex- 
cept a south-east wind in the Straits, which blows directly into 
it. Squim Bay, six miles and a half from the preceeding is three 
miles long and one mile wide. Port Discovery, nine miles from 
Squim Bay, has but one fault and that is its great depth of 
water, which ranges from twenty-five to forty fathoms. Its aver- 
age width is a mile and three-quarters and its length nine miles. 
Its shores are bold and heavily timbered. The next harbor in- 
side this is Port Townsend, but it may be classified with Puget 
Sound. Of Puget Sound, not much more need be said, ifhaving 
been described in general terms before. The Straits of Juan de 
Fuca require a brief notice. The entrance to the Straits from 
the Pacific Ocean, lies between Cape Flattery in Wash- 
ington Territory and Cape Bonilla on Vancouver Island, and 
is twelve miles wide. The Straits run in a direct line east 
for forty miles, having a uniform width of eleven miles, then con- 
tracts to eight miles between Beechy Head and Striped Peak, 
thence runs a little north of east for fifteen miles, thence changes 
to a northward course, expanding to a width of twenty miles and 
dividing into two sub-channels, the Straits of Rosario and Canal 
de Haro, which leads through the Archipelago de Haro, north- 
ward to the Gulf of Georgia. From the Ocean to Whidby Is- 
land, which terminates it on the east, the mid-channel distance 
is eighty-four miles. It passes into Puget Sound in the south- 
east, and is the principal artery for the preceeding and their ad- 
juncts, Possession Sound, Bellingham Bay, Hood's Canal and 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 25 

the Gulf of Georgia, which extends northward 120 miles. The 
depth of the water is very great, no soundings having been found 
in its deepest part, with 150 fathoms of line. Bellingham Bay, 
south of Rosario Straits, has an entrance two miles in width, 
which contracts to one mile off Cyprus Island. There are several 
islands in the channel called the Cone Islands. It is fourteen 
miles long and three wide, a depth of water from three to twenty 
fathoms and a general direction from south-east to north-west. 
Hood's Canal empties into Puget Sound near Port Gamble. 
The following is the shore line of the principal bodies of water, 
in nautical miles: 

Straits of Juan de Fuca 161 

Gulf of Georgia, Canal de Haro and Rosario Straits 627 

Puget Sound 614 

Hood's Canal 192 

Total 1,594 



RIVERS. 

The Territory is profusely watered by rivers, varying in size 
from the noble Columbia to the tiny mountain brooklet. West- 
ern Washington is more liberally watered than the Eastern divi- 
sion. These rivers with few exceptions, have their sources in the 
Cascades and Coast ranges, and owing to the vast quantities of 
snow which melts and swells them, they are very cold and clear. 
In most of them table trout can be found and they are the resort 
of a large number of wild geese, ducks and swan. The most fer- 
tile land in the Territory is to be found along these river bottoms 
and it is the abundance of these rivers that render the principal 
portion of the Territory so desirable for farming lands. The first 
of these rivers in extent and commercial importance is the Co- 
lumbia, which rises in the Rocky Mountains, in latitude 50 deg. 
20 min. After flowing northerly for nearly two degrees, it de- 
flects sharply to the south and in latitude 51 deg., expands into 
a series of small lakes. A few miles further south it receives the 
waters of the Kootnai, Spokane and several minor streams. 
Where it receives the waters of the Okanagan, it turns almost 



26 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

due west for several miles, then turning south it receives the 
waters of the Wenachee, Chelan, Methon, Enteathwa, Yakima, 
Klickitat, Walla Walla and Snake rivers, the latter being its 
main tributary. The Snake river receives the Palouse, Clear- 
water and Tucanon rivers, and several of less importance, all of 
which go to swell the Columbia. This splendid river, whose 
tributaries alone have a length of eight hundred miles in the Ter- 
ritory, is 1,300 miles long. It is navigable for heavy ships 115 
miles, and for river steamers 160 miles from its mouth. A por- 
tage of a few miles interrupts navigation, when it is again resumed, 
and thence up Snake river, until the summer season, when the 
waters become too low. The Columbia is the dividing line be- 
tween Washington and Oregon for a distance of 300 miles. The 
most northern of the rivers which flow through Western Wash- 
ington is the Nooksahk, which has its source northeast of Mount 
Baker. It empties into Bellingham Bay and its total length is 
forty-six miles. Some excellent land can be found near it, and 
coarse gold has been found on one of its tributaries. South of 
this, and emptying into the same bay is the Samish river, 
another pretty stream. The Skagit river rises in the Cascades 
near the 49th parallel, and empties into Port Susan. It is the 
most important river of the Puget Sound basin. It drains a re- 
gion extending one degree of latitude, but its navigation is pre- 
vented by a jam of fallen trees whose branches are so closely in- 
terlaced as to prevent the passage of a canoe. The obstruction 
once cleared awa} r , the river is navigable for light-draught steam- 
ers a distance of sixty miles, and will open to settlers some of the 
most fertile land of the Territory. The Stillaguamish river also 
empties into Port Susan. It is forty miles long and flows in a 
westerly course. This is somewhat obstructed by drift wood, 
which, if it were removed, would render the river navigable for 
twenty miles for small steamers. Excellent land skirts its banks 
and croppings of coal have been found in localities adjacent to it. 
The next rivers towards the south are the Snohomish and Sno- 
qualmie. Extensive cranberry marshes are found at the mouth 
of the former. The banks of this river are subject to inundation 
during the annual freshet, but back of them lie excellent land 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 27 

which can be easily cleared. • The Snoqualmie rises in the Cas- 
cades, at an altitude of three thousand feet, and flows in an east- 
erly direction for twenty miles, where it makes a plunge of two 
hundred and seventy feet, forming the celebrated Snoqualmie 
Falls, then joins the Snohomish and becomes blended with it 
until it reaches the sea, a distance oi forty miles. Another 
branch of the Snohomish is called the Skywamish. The Du- 
wamish river, which receives the waters of several tributaries, 
empties into Elliot Bay, near Seattle. The principal of these 
branches are the White and Green rivers. The total length of 
the Duwamish, including White Kiver, which is the fountain 
head, may be estimated at sixty-two miles. In this vicinity are 
several other rivers of importance, Black River, the outlet of 
Lake Washington and Cedar River, near which are some excel- 
lent agricultural lands open to settlement. The Duwamish is 
navigable for thirty miles. The Puyallup rises near Mount Rain- 
ier, flows in a north-westerly direction for forty miles and emp- 
ties into Commencement Bay. • The valleys adjoining the river 
are extremely fertile and yield heavy crops of hops, grain, etc. 
It is the principal hop region of the Territory at present, and 
this year, (1875) yielded about 200,000 pounds. Extensive coal 
deposits have also been found here, and the only vein of what is 
claimed to be anthracite, are among these. The Nisqually river 
rises south of Mount Ranier, flows in a northwesterly direction for 
eighty miles, receiving in its course several streams, and empties 
into Puget Sound, eleven miles from Olympia. Several streams 
water the western side, the principal of which is the Skokomish, 
which rises in the Coast Range and empties into Hood's canal, 
about twenty-eight miles from Olympia. The valley adjoining is 
extremely fertile and produces abundant crops. The Quillehute 
rises in the Coast Range and empties into the Pacific Ocean. It 
is navigable for canoes for several miles, and the valley adjoining, 
which bear its name, offers great inducements to the farmer and 
stock-raiser and its richness of soil is equal to any land in the 
Territory. The Quinault River empties into the ocean a few 
miles north of Port Granville. The largest river south of this is 
the Chehalis, which rises in the Cascade Mountains and empties 



28 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

into Gray's Harbor, eighty miles from its source. It receives the 
waters of the Newaukum, Skookum Chuck, Satsop, Westican, 
Black, Johns and Wynooche. The region of country which it 
waters is called the " Garden Spot" of the Territory, and it mer- 
its the name. Prairies, good for grazing, are abundant, and agri- 
cultural land, which only needs the hand of the husbandman to 
yield plentifully, await the industrious settler. The Copalis 
river also empties into Gray's Harbor. It mouth is nearly closed 
by a bar. The Willopah, Palux and Nasal rivers empty into 
Shoalwater Bay, the principal one of which is the Willopah, 
which enters the north-east part. It is nine miles wide at its 
mouth and the oldest settlement in the Territory is located on 
its banks. The Palux enters five miles north-east of Leadbetter 
Point and its greatest width is a half a mile. The Nasal enters 
eleven miles from the proceeding, and is rather deep, having 
twenty feet of water at its mouth. The most important stream 
entering on the north side of the bay is the Necomanche, which 
is a mile and a half wide at high" tide. Of the streams emptying 
into the lower Columbia river, the most important are the Cow- 
litz, Lewis, Washougal and Cathlapootle. The first rises in the 
Cascade Mountains between Mount Rainier and St. Helens, flows 
in a varying course from south-west 'to south and empties into 
the Columbia opposite the town of Ptainier. It is one hundred 
miles long, is navigable for steamers for twenty-four miles and for 
canoes much further. A fine farming country is watered by it. 
Lewis river rises in the southern part of the Territory and enters 
the Columbia opposite St. Helens. The Washougal seeks its 
outlet twelve miles from Vancouver and the Cathlapootle eighteen 
miles below it. 



LAKES. 

There are innumerable lakes scattered throughout the Terri- 
tory, the largest and most important of which is Lake Wash- 
ington, in King County and lying three miles back of Seattle. 
It has a length of twentv miles and an average width of three 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 29 

miles and a half. It is separated from Lake Union, which lies 
between it and the Sound, by a portage of one-fourth of a mile, 
which could be easily cut away and both lakes run into one. 
From Lake Union to the Sound it is but one mile, and as 
the ground is sloping towards the latter, a canal could be cut for 
a small sum and thus the vast bodies of timber and fine agricul- 
tural land be made accessible by direct water communication 
from the Sound. In Pierce County, four miles from Steilacoom, 
is situated American Lake, a fine body of water and next to this 
Gravelly and Steilacoom lakes, which form a chain, being but 
little apart. Whatcom Lake in Whatcom County, is another 
beautiful sheet of water about nine miles long. Nearly all the 
lakes of the country abound in fine fish which bite readily. 



LANDS. 

Lands fit for cultivation or grazing can be found in most parts 
of the Territory, either under the homestead and pre-emption 
acts or by purchase. Not more than one per cent, of the land is 
under cultivation, but the cause of this is easily traced to the 
sparseness of the population* Of the entire area, not more than 
ten million acres are prairie and barren land, but the prairies 
though composed of a sandy, gravelly soil, are good for grazing, 
and many produce good crops and a large extent of the barren 
land could be reclaimed by irrigation. There are thirty-five mil- 
lion acres of timber land, all of which, or nearly all, is good farm- 
ing land, and five million acres of rich alluvial deposit, which 
cannot be surpassed in fertility. These are generally situated 
along the water-courses and near the tides. These latter lands, 
when dyked, yield enormous crops and require no dressing during 
the life of at least one generation. The expense of building 
dykes does not exceed that of clearing lightly timbered land, say 
from $3 to $10 per acre, and the land once reclaimed requires no 
more attention than saving and harvesting the crops. Fanners 
who have taken pre-emption or homestead claims upon such land 
and worked it for a year or two have been offered from three to 



30 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

four thousand dollars for them. The bottom lands are easily 
cleared, the wood upon them being principally maple, crabapple, 
alder, ash and an occasional cedar, spruce or fir tree. The valley 
of the Skagit river is extensive enough to furnish farms for at 
least five thousand persons. The Lummi valley, near the Skagit, 
is twenty miles long and two miles wide and but thinly settled, 
so that it offers excellent inducements for those seeking homes. 
In fact, happy homes can be made on any of the principal rivers 
and valleys, throughout Washington, from its most southern to 
its most northern limits. Such land as belongs to the Northern^ 
Pacific Railroad Company, which is every odd section for twenty 
miles on each side of the surveyed line of the railroad, is open to 
settlers, and all unsurveyed land belonging to it, which may be 
occupied by persons, can be purchased as soon as it is appraised, 
the settler having the first privilege of buying. The land in 
Yakima, Colville and Walla Walla valleys in Eastern Washing- 
ton, are excellent grain and grazing lands, and those desirous of 
engaging in stock-raising can find no better country in the world. 
Bunch grass, native to the country, abounds and retains a peren- 
nial nutrition. Water is plenty and thousands of animals brouse 
the year round and are always in the best condition. Whatever 
portion of the Territory an immigrant may scan, he will find 
there, with rare exceptions, desirable places on which to locate a 
home. Improved farms can be purchased, by such persons as do 
not wish to hew out a farm in the forest, and they have a variety 
of topography and climate to choose from, that must suit the 
most fastidious. They have the rolling plains and warm climate 
of Eastern Washington, with its numerous beautiful rivers and 
lakes, or the more humid and heavily timbered Western Wash- 
ington, with its great bodies of water. The poor man, desirous 
of making a home for himself and family, and willing to work, 
can find no country which offers greater inducements than Wash- 
ington Territory. He must not expect to find an earthly para- 
dise, but he will find it superior to any of the States of the At- 
lantic coast. Ready facilities for the procuring of the public 
lands are offered, there being three land offices, at Olympia, Van- 
couver and Walla Walla, respectively. 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 31 



SCHOOL AND SCHOOL LAWS. 

The Territory is well supplied with schools, considering the 
sparseness of the population, and the number is constantly aug- 
menting, as an increased interest is manifested in education from 
year to year, both by the people and the Legislature. There is a 
Territorial Superintendent of Common Schools, whose duty it is 
to look after the general welfare of schools, examine teachers, 
disseminate intelligence in reference to education throughout the 
Territory. For the support of schools the County Commission- 
ers levy a tax of four mills on the dollar on all assessible proper- 
ty, and the principal of all moneys accruing from the sale of lands 
given, or which may be given for school purposes, by Congress, 
is made an irreducible fund, the interest of which shall be divid- 
ed annually among the school districts in proportion to the 
number of school children they contain. Teachers are required 
to procure a certificate of qualification and good moral character 
before entering upon their duties. No books of a sectarian char- 
acter allowed, nor any denominational doctrine taught in the 
schools. The following approximate totals will give an idea of 
the number of schools in the Territory and the salaries paid to 
teachers: Number of school houses, 172; school districts, 225; 
schools taught, 172; number of scholars attending, 4,792; per- 
sons of school age, 8,537; amount paid to teachers, $39,294 14. 
The following text books are in use in the schools: Sander's 
Union Speller and Reader, Robinson's Arithemetic and Algebra, 
Monteith's Geography, Kerl's Grammer, Spenser's writing and 
drawing books. There are several good private schools in the 
larger towns. The higher branches are taught at the Union 
Academy at Olympia, and the Territorial University at Seattle. 
This last is under the control of a Board of Regents, whose duty 
it is to. apply the funds of accruing from the lands donated for its 
support, by act of Congress, which consist of 46,080 acres of se- 
lected lands, and look after its general welfare. Both male and 
female students are received. 



32 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

The Territory is yet to young to make any pretensions to ar- 
chitectual display, either in public or private buildings. Of the 
former, it may be said to have scarcely any. 

The Capitol building, situated at Olympia, is a square two- 
story, wooden building located in the suburbs. It has recently 
been repaired and greatly improved both inside and out, by au 
appropriation from the Federal Government of about $5,000. 

The Territorial Penitentiary is located on McNeil's Island in 
Puget Sound, a few miles distant from Steilacoom. The Insane 
Asylum is also located at Steilacoom. 

The Custom House is at Port Townsend. The Territorial 
University at Seattle is a wooden building, two stories high, 
rectangular in form, with columns in front. It was erected in 
1863, at a cost of $60,000. 



RAILROADS. 

The first attempt at building a railroad in the Territory was 
made in 1871, and now four are in process of construction. One 
runs from Walla Walla to Wallula, a distance of thirty miles; 
another is the Pacific branch of the Northern Pacific Railroad, at 
present running from Kalama, on the Columbia River, to Tacoma, 
on Puget Sound. The third and fourth have their roads partially 
graded. The first of these, will run from Olympia to Tenino, a 
station on the N. P. R. R., and the second, from Seattle to 
Walla Walla. When these roads are finished, the Territory will 
have what it has long needed, a rapid -means of transportation 
for its abundant products. 



INDIANS. 

The Indians of the Territory, like the race in every part of 
the country, are rapidly fading away before the advance of civili- 
zation. The Territory had a very large Indian population, a few 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 33 

years ago, but the number will not now reach fifteen thousand 
souls, and they are rapidly decimating through sickness and the 
vices learned from the white men. The principal portion of the 
Indians are confined to the reservations, and many of them raise 
fruits, grains and stock, while others work round mills, logging 
camps and farms. The outside laborers earn from one to two dol- 
lars a day, and during fhe "seal season" they earn as high as for- 
ty dollars a day hunting the fur seal. There are fourteen reserva- 
tions in the Territory, and they contain from five hundred to 
four thousand each, and all are under the charge of superintend- 
ents. Each reservation has its church and school-house. The 
natives are quiet and industrious, inclined to be religious, punc- 
tual at service and comparatively free from vice. The Government 
furnishes teachers, overseers, surgeons, chaplains, and such other 
persons as may be required to look after their welfare. 



NOTES TO IMMIGRANTS. 

There is no portion of the country, perhaps, that offers all the 
advantages to an immigrant equal to this Territory. The lands 
along the water courses are extremely fertile, and these are very 
numerous; its tide lands make the finest gardens in the world 
when dyked, and produce extensive crops. Its timber lands are 
useful both for agriculture and commercial purposes, and its 
prairies afford good pasturage for all domestic animals. These 
lands, of all grades, can be found in the Territory. They can be 
purchased, pre-empted or taken up under the homestead act, so 
that he who desires to labor, and is willing to make a home for 
himself, can find the means in this genial country. The person 
desiring to take up a farm along the courses of the rivers, can 
find plenty of room and land, from Lumni on the north to the 
lower portion of the Columbia, Timber land can be found any 
where in Western Washington, except near the' milling towns, 
and if it is adjacent to water it is valuable, as loggers get about 
five dollars a thousand for saw-logs, and they select such land as 
will afford them ready facilities of getting their timber to water. 
C 



34 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

They pay fifty cents per thousand feet for stumpage, so that a 
person having heavily timbered land can receive double compen- 
sation from it; first, from the lumber, then from the products 
raised. Some of this class of land is difficult and expensive to 
clear, but much of it is comparatively easy and inexpensive. 
The principal prairies are in Eastern Washington, and they are 
undoubtedly the best grazing lands in the world, being covered 
with the large and abundant bunch grass, which retains its nu- 
trition the year round. These prairies are traversed by thous- 
ands of domestic animals, who roam at large, with little or no 
care from their owners. The immigrant desirous of following 
the business, will find here ample room. The smaller prairies 
afford excellent opportunities for engaging in the wool business. 
Wool brings a good price, mutton is always sought for in the 
market, and wild animals destructive to sheep are scarce. Were 
an immigrant to ask, where can I find a good farm, we would 
say: Almost any where in Washington Territory. Go where you 
may, you can find land in its primitive state or under cultiva- 
tion. As to the healthfulness of the country, it is unequaled by 
any portion of the Union and the truth of this statement can be 
learned, at any time, by reference to the report of the Surgeon- 
General of the United States. The resources of the country are 
yet undeveloped. Commerce, with the exception of the lumber 
and coal trade, is dormant, and manufactories comparatively un- 
known. The Territory does the largest lumber trade in the 
world, and ships, laden with spars, masts and lumber can be 
seen daily on their way through the waters of the Sound. The 
minerals of the Territory, which are rich and varied, have not, 
with the exception of coal, been developed at all. House rent is 
comparatively small, churches are plentiful, and the facilities for 
education are excellent. Those desiring to furnish their children 
an ample education can do so, as all the larger towns are liberally 
supplied with private and public schools. The population of the 
Territory is composed largely of natives of the New England and 
Middle States, but like every other portion of the country, rep- 
resentatives of European nationalities are found here. A more 
orderly and law-abiding population cannot be found in America. 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 35 

Private and benevolent societies are numerous and large in num- 
bers. All the principal denominations have churches through- 
out the Territory, so that the immigrant can find here, as well 
as in his native land, the consolations of his faith. While thus 
showing the advantages of the country, we would not advise all 
who desire to better their conditions to flock here, unless they are 
willing to toil, and are possessed of courage and endurance to hew 
themselves a home out of the forests and labor for the advance- 
ment of the country. Those persons engaged in the lighter occu- 
pations, such as professional men, book-keepers and clerks, will 
not find much employment, until the commerce and population 
of the Territory increase. Farmers, mechanics, carpenters, 
masons and blacksmiths are most needed, as they are useful in 
every community. Gentlemen of leisure, and their kindred are 
not wanted. The country is yet too young to support drones of 
any kind. People wanted then, are the earnest, hard working 
kind, who have an object in life and wishing to make prepara- 
tions for their families and old age. Those who come, need not 
expect to find all they desire immediately; they must be content, 
if they take farms, to live somewhat isolated for a short time, 
unless they have means to purchase land in more thickly settled 
districts. But this isolation must be for a short time only, as 
these fertile lands cannot remain long unsettled. The inhabi- 
tants of Europe and the Eastern States are seeking more elbow 
room, and to the " Great West" they must come. He is the 
best off, then, who comes first and has the privilege of making a 
selection of the lands, and he will find that Washington possesses 
all the elements of a great and prosperous State, and offers su- 
perior inducements to those seeking homes. 



RATES OF WAGES. 

Many persons, doubtless, would be glad to know what class 
of mechanics, laborers and domestic servants are needed in the 
country, and the wages paid. To the first query, we would say, 
that any person able and willing to work, can find employment. 
The persons most needed are farmers, who are willing to hew 



36 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

themselves a home with their brawny arms, or have the means 
of improving land. Manufacturers are wanted to utalize in the 
country the productions .of the country, and thus enrich that 
which should be enriched, and not allow all the profits and con- 
trol of the commerce to fall into the hands of those who have no 
interest in the advancement of the Territory. Mechanics are 
wanted, blacksmiths and carpenters make from three to five dol- 
lars per day in gold. Boiler-makers and machinists receive from 
five to seven dollars per day, but the demand for their services 
is at present limited. Good waiters get a salary ranging from 
thirty-five to forty dollars a month and board. Day laborers, 
receive from forty to sixty dollars per month, and many are re- 
quired to work around mills and logging-camps and to work on 
wagon-roads. Good axemen, as loggers, get from sixty to one 
hundred dollars per month and board. Teamsters about the 
same, and mill-hands from thirty-five to fifty dollars per month 
with board. Cooks receive from fifty to one hundred dollars a 
month and board; clerks from sixty to one hundred dollars and 
book-keepers average one hundred dollars a month, but few of 
the latter class are needed at present. Sailors get thirty-five 
dollars a month on coasting vessels and twenty on foreign. 
School and music teachers are not in good demand and the wages 
paid are small. Female servants for the house are much needed 
and are paid better, proportionately, than any other class of em- 
ployees. One hundred girls could find positions of this class, 
within a week after their arrival in the Territory, at from twenty 
to thirty-five dollars per month and board. Literary men and 
loiterers are not wanted and had better keep away. The motto 
that " fortune favors the brave," will be found a good one here, 
for it is only the brave of heart, the ready, willing toiler that is 
desired. He is needed to advance the country, to help place it 
among the first of the States of the Union. It possesses dor- 
mant wealth and resources, all that is required is their develop- 
ment. Kid-gloved men, persons of extremely fine sensibilities 
are not the characters to develop these, but the hardy, laborious 
and courageous man who fears not toil, and is willing to work 
hard at present that he may enjoy his ease hereafter. 



DESCRIPTION BY COUNTIES. 




WHATCOM COUNTY. 

The boundaries of this extreme north-western county are 
British Columbia on the north, the Cascade Mountains on the 
east, Snohomish County on the south and St. George's Channel 
and Canal de Haro on the west. It is the largest county west of 
the Cascade Mountains and contains half a million acres of agri- 
cultural land ot which not one-fifth is owned or occupied. There 
are three classes of land, viz.: tide marsh, (of which there is the 
largest body of any county in the Territory), river bottom and 
high, rolling land. The average soil is a rich brown loam, rest- 
ing upon a heavy sub-soil of clay and will produce from 40 to 80 
bushels of wheat, 100 bushels of oats or barley and from 200 to 
500 bushels of potatoes per acre. Every kind of fruit and vege- 
table is grown here, usually found in a temperate climate, in 
great perfection. The timber of the county is pine, (on the 
mountains), fir, cedar, spruce, maple and alder. There are 
several first-class water powers here, fine sites for steam mills and 
a good opening for a grist mill, a saw mill and a woolen mill. 
The Bellingham Bay coal mine is located here. An inexhausti- 
ble supply of clay fit for earthenware, quarries of fine sandstone 
for building purposes and on account of its eligibility of position 
and timber, this must naturally become a point for shipbuilding 
at no distant day. There are fifteen schools and one saw mill, and 
mail communication once a week with the outside world. Bor- 
dering upon British Columbia, a ready market for surplus pro- 
ducts is here found. Improved lands in this county are worth 



40 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

from $3 50 to $15 00 per acre. The principal towns are What- 
com, Sehome and La Conner. The estimated population is 
1,400; the taxable property, $469,277 and the area in square 
miles about 3,840. 



SAN JUAN COUNTY. 

The county of San Juan is an archipelago lying between Van- 
couver Island, B. C, on the west and Whatcom county on the 
east. It offers many excellent opportunities for immigrants and 
much of its best land lies unoccupied — land that is easily cleared 
and will produce heavy crops of either grain or vegetables. San 
Juan, the principal island, is already thickly settled, still there 
are some good claims to be had and several improved farms can 
be bought at a reasonable figure. There are two schools here 
and excellent instructors teach in each, during six months of the 
year. Divine service is held every Sunday. There are also two 
stores and a blacksmith shop and roads traverse the island from one 
end to the other. Lopez Island is smaller than San Juan, but 
has a larger amount of agricultural land, in proportion to its 
size, than the latter. Most of the land claimed on Lopez, is at, 
or near the water, leaving the interior, which is really the finest 
land, lying idle. Here can be found large and beautiful alder 
bottoms, marshes and fern lands, all of which are very easily brought 
under cultivation, and once cultivated, they produce equal to any 
land in the country. There is but one school upon this island. 
There is a store and a post-office, to which roads lead from 
all parts of the island. Good claims can also be found on seve- 
ral other islands, Orcas, Stewart, John's, Decatur, and others. 
Some of these are excellent for sheep-raising as well as farming. 
The population of the county is 533, the taxable property, 
$132,848, and the area in square miles about 280. 



ISLAND COUNTY. 

This county lies at the mouth of Admiralty Inlet, (an arm of 
Puget Sound) and consists of two islands, Camano and Whidby. 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 41 

Whidby contains 115,000 acres of land and Camano nearly 30,- 
000. All of Camano, except 2,000 or 3,000 acres and two-thirds 
of Whidby, are heavily timbered with fir, cedar, hemlock, spruce 
and alder. The remainder consists of natural prairies and re- 
claimed swamp lands, above the average in fertility, producing 
largely of wheat, barley, oats, hay, fruit and garden vegetables, 
when properly cultivated. Much of the timber land is fit for 
grazing when cleared, producing good blue-grass, timothy and 
clover. About half the population are engaged in farming and 
the remainder in lumbering and commercial pursuits. There are 
Government lands in the county, but good farming lands may 
be bought at reasonable figures. There are six schools in the 
county and one church and mail facilities are good. There is one 
large saw mill at Utsalady and a flouring mill at Coveland. 
Coupeville and Oak Harbor are also towns of some importance. 
The taxable property of the county is $460,363; population, 580 
and it has an area of 250 square miles. 



SNOHOMISH COUNTY. 

This county has for boundaries Whatcom County on the 
north, the waters of Puget Sound on the west, King County on 
the south and the Cascade Mountains on the east. It is heavily 
timbered with fir, cedar, alder, maple, etc., except on the tide 
flats and marshes bordering on the Sound and at the mouth of 
its two great rivers — the Snohomish and Stillaguamish, which 
with their tributaries run through this region, making it one of 
the most fertile counties in the Territory. 2,600 acres of land 
have already been cleared for cultivation and 3,000 more are 
partially cleared and in use for pasturage. The principal grain 
regioii is upon the tide flats, and it is estimated that during last 
season (1874) about 18,000 bushels of oats and barley and 2,000 
bushels of wheat were raised on the Stillaguamish flats alone. 
Besides feeding to stock a large quantity of oats and barley in 
the straw on the Snohomish, there were 3,000 bushels threshed 
and about 1,000 bushels of wheat. The principal hay region is 



42 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

in the river bottoms, and over 2,000 tons were raised there last 
year. The vegetables of the county are remarkable for size and 
quality, and enormous crops are harvested. At Snohomish City 
and Lowell, the principal towns, are located enterprising and in- 
telligent communities. The foundations are here being laid 
morally, intellectually and financially, for flourishing cities at no 
distant day. The population of this county is 825, with chil- 
dren enough for eight school districts. The taxable property is 
$239,629 and possesses area of about 2,000 square miles, three- 
quarters of which is unexplored. 



CLALLAM COUNTY. 

This county is bounded on the north by the Straits of San 
Juan de Fuca, east and south by Jefferson county and on the 
west by the Pacific Ocean. The soil is varied, but in general it 
is good and well adapted to ordinary farming. All kinds of 
crops found in a temperate climate are grown here advantageous- 
ly. Wheat, barley and potatoes yield enormously, and it is not 
uncommon to harvest a good volunteer crop of grain from fields 
which the year before produced 80 and 90 bushels to the acre. 
The timber of the county is large and fine, principally fir, cedar 
and hemlock. Good farming land awaits the settler a few miles 
back from the bays and rivers, nearly all the front claims having 
been taken up. There are three regularly organized school dis- 
tricts and good school buildings. There are no churches and but 
one religious body — the Methodists — who have services once a 
month and religious services are held by a visiting clergyman of 
the Episcopal church, as often as every other Sunday, at the 
Courthouse at New Dunginess. Mails are received weekly. 
Logging and farming are the principal industries, and the class 
of immigrants most likely to succeed here, are those acquainted 
with one of these, and men of muscle and energy generally. The 
roads are good, the general face of the country being level, mak- 
ing the shipping and hauling of produce easy. The G-overnment 
lands in the county are but $1 25 per acre. Improved lands 
are worth from $3 00 to $10 00 per acre. The population of 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TBRRITORY. 43 

the county is 351, taxable property, $126,905 and an area of 
2,050 square miles, half unexplored. 



JEFFERSON COUNTY. 

The boundaries of Jefferson are the Straits of Juan de Fuca 
and Clallam county on the north, the waters of Puget Sound on 
the east, Mason and Chehalis counties on the south and the Pa- 
cific Ocean on the west. The general character of the country is 
rough and but a small per cent, of the land is suitable for agri- 
culture, though quite a number of farms have been opened up in 
the several valleys and there is still much good land unoccupied. 
There are but few good farms for sale in the county, but good 
land, still unimproved, can be bought at from $3 00 to $12 00 
per acre, and there is G-overnment land subject to pre-emption 
and homestead entries. Lumbering is the chief industry, though 
there is a good market at the county seat, Port Townsend and 
the milling points, for all produce raised, at good prices. Lum- 
bermen and mill-hands are in demand, and domestic servants are 
much needed here. Chinamen are employed, where in nearly 
every case, white help would be preferred. The public schools in 
this county rank among the first in the Territory. There are 
four churches at Port Townsend and divine services are held at 
all the milling towns and farming settlements. There are four 
post offices in the county, with semi-weekly mail to each, and 
telegraphic communication is established with the outside world. 
Port Townsend is the port of entry for Washington Territory 
and is on the line of the principal steamboat routes. The sub- 
District Court also convenes here. Two lumber mills are located 
in this county, one at Port Discovery and one at Port Ludlow. 
The population of the county is 1,208, the taxable property, 
$495,264 and the area about 2,000 square miles, probably three- 
fourths of which is practically unexplored. 



44 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

KITSAP COUNTY. 

This county is a peninsula bounded on the north, west 
and east by Puget Sound and south by Pierce and Mason coun- 
ties. It is a heavily wooded region and is noted as being the 
county in which are located a large number of the great 
lumber mills of Puget Sound; in fact it is the milling county of 
the Territory. Six mills of great capacity are located here and 
constantly employ a large number of men. At Port Gamble are 
two lumber mills, one ©f which has a capacity of 240,000 feet per 
day and is probably the largest lumber mill in the world, and a 
grist mill, and at Port Madison, Port Blakely and Seabeck are 
lumber mills. At each of these points are flourishing towns 
with excellent church and school facilities, temperance organiza- 
tions, etc. The population of this county is estimated at 
1,300, taxable property, $789,029, area in square miles about 
540. 

KING COUNTY. 

The boundaries of this county are as follows: North by Sno- 
homish, east by the Cascade Mountains, south by Pierce county 
and west by the waters of Puget Sound. It is one of the most 
important counties in the Territory on account of its mineral, 
agricultural and commercial resources. Its mineral wealth can- 
not as yet be estimated, although it is known to be great, as 
much of the county lying among the foot-hills of the Cascade 
Mountains has never been explored, but its vast coal-fields are 
already yielding a large revenue to the companies engaged in 
working them. This is owing to the facilities for easy transpor- 
tation that is afforded by the lakes and rivers which abound in 
the county, forming a complete net-work of navigable waters. 
The outlet of these waters is through the Duwamish river into 
Elliott Bay, on which is situated Seattle, the largest and most 
thriving town on Puget Sound. It is very eligibly located for 
commerce, has a tolerably good harbor and is well supplied with 
wharves and warehouses. Manufactories of various kinds are 



I RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 45 

Gamed on and merchants, doctors and lawyers, thrive here; 
hotels and restaurants are well patronized and the various 
churches and schools are in a nourishing condition. Lake Wash- 
ington, on which is situated one of the principal coal mines in 
the Territory, is a large and beautiful lake, lying a few miles 
from Seattle in an easterly direction and is connected with Lake 
Union (lying about a mile from Seattle) by a short portage. 
Over this portage and to the wharf where it is loaded into ships, 
the coal is carried over a railroad. A railroad to the Talbot 
mine on Black River is also in process of construction. Around 
Lake Washington and indeed all the lakes of the county, there 
is more or less rich agricultural land, and the river bottoms can- 
not be exceeded in fertility. The uplands of King county are 
covered with a heavy growth of fir and cedar, but all through 
the county, interspersed here and there, are swales, swampy lands 
and prairies, equal in richness, to the river bottoms, thus giving 
the enterprising immigrant a chance for locating in any part of 
the county and the industrious mechanic and artisan of the East- 
ern States and the hardy pioneer of the West, may alike find 
homes in our genial and salubrious climate. The population is 
3,500, taxable property, $1,778,172. Area in square miles about 
1,900. 

MASON COUNTY. 

The county is bounded by Jefferson and Kitsap counties on 
the north, on the east by Kitsap, Pierce and Thurston, on the 
south by Thurston and Chehalis. About three-fourths of this 
county is more or less hilly, and some of it mountainous. A 
small portion of the upland is fertile, such as is covered with a 
growth of hemlock, cedar, alder and maple. There are several 
valleys of good land yet unoccupied. The largest tracts of which 
are on the Skokomish and Satsop rivers and Goldsborough 
creek. There are several prairies, which would make excellent 
stock ranges, and enough good land in the county for many fair 
sized neighborhoods, which can be had of the Government or 
bought of the N. P. R. R. Co., at about Government prices. 



46 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

Yellow fir, hemlock and cedar is the timber of the uplands; 
spruce, alder, maple, ash and cottonwood of the bottoms. Stock 
raising is carried on here successfully. Hay is the principal crop 
raised, though grains, vegetables and fruit do well here. The 
class of immigrants needed is families — those with energy, who 
are not afraid of hard work. Persons coming here to make 
homes must not expect to get them close to the bay, for nearly- 
all the good land bordering the shore is already taken; they will 
have to go back from four to ten miles for farm lands. Mail com- 
munications once a week and the roads very good, though most 
of the travel and all the freighting is done by water. There are 
but few schools and no churches in the county. The principal 
towns are Arcadia, Oakland and Union City. The taxable 
property of the county is $178,510, the population 400, and the 
area 900 square miles, about half of which is unexplored. 



CHEHAL1S COUNTY. 

The boundaries of this county are Jefferson and Mason coun- 
ties on the north, Mason, Thurston and Lewis on the east, 
Lewis and Pacific on the south and the Pacific Ocean on the 
west. The land may be divided into three classes: River bottom, 
prairie and upland. The river bottoms amount to, perhaps, one- 
third of the county and are very fertile, having been known to 
produce 60 bushels of wheat to the acre, with an average of 40, 
20 to 40 bushels of barley, 50 to 80 of oats and all vegetables 
for culinary purposes yield large and fine crops. The soil of this 
land is clay loam with more or less sand. The prairie lands lie 
at various heights above the bottoms and produce good crops of 
grain, vegetables and grass, but are used principally far pastur- 
age. The upland is for the most part rough, though it has some 
good soil. The timber of the bottoms is vine-maple, cottonwood, 
salmon-brush, alder and maple, with a few 6pruces and firs. 
Much of this class of land may be cleared at a cost of $15 per 
acre. The uplands are mainly covered with fir, spruce, cedar 
and hemlock, which are noted for their fine quality. Land fit 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 47 

for cultivation may be estimated at about two-thirds the whole 
county, and the amount in private hands at about one-fourth. 
The price per acre, for unimproved lands is from $1 25 to $5; 
improved, from $10 to $20 per acre. The principal industries 
of the county are dairying, raising beef, grain and other farm 
products. The butter of this region, known in the market as the 
Chehalis butter is dense and yellow at all seasons of the year and 
commands a higher price than any other grade. Persons en- 
gaged in this business make from three or four hundred pounds, 
to a ton, during the season, which finds a ready market at from 
25 to 50 cents per pound. A grist mill is greatly needed here 
and mill sites are plenty. Energetic and industrious people are 
wanted as settlers in Chehalis county and farmers more than 
any other class. The roads are tolerably good, considering the 
land upon which they are made. Rich land always makes some 
mud in wet weather when much traveled over. The county is 
well supplied with game, such as elk, deer, ducks and geese. 
Schools and churches are abundant and the inhabitants are of 
good moral character. There is a regular mail to all the post- 
offices in the county. Elma and Montesano are two of the most 
important and thriving towns. The taxable property amounts 
to $301,799, estimated population 750, and an area of about 
2,800 square miles, probably one-half of which is not thoroughly- 
explored. 

PIERCE COUNTY. 

The boundaries of this county are as follows: North by King 
and Kitsap counties, west by Thurston and Puget Sound, south- 
by Thurston and Lewis and east by the Cascade Mountains. 
Stock and hop raising are among the principal industries of this 
section. Four hundred acres in the rich Puyallup valley were 
this year devoted to the cultivation of hops, with a probable yield 
of 100,000 pounds. This region is also attracting considerable- 
attention on account of the deposits of bituminous and (it is 
claimed) anthracite coal of fine quality found here, which, whem 
developed, must add greatly to the wealth of the county. The- 



48 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad on Puget Sound, is 
located at Tacoma and the company have spent considerable 
money to improve this point. At Tacoma (the old town) is also 
located a first-class lumber mill with a capacity of 60,000 feet 
per day. At Steilacoom is situated the Territorial Insane Asy- 
lum and upon McNeil's Island near Steilacoom stretches a grav- 
eled prairie, scattered over which are numerous lakes and groves 
rendering it a beautiful spot and a famous place of resort for its 
magnificent drives as well as its lovely scenery. Much good 
agricultural land is still to be found vacant in the county and is 
open to the settler. The population of the county is 1,800; 
taxable property, $1,123,062 72 and an area of about 1,8C0 
square miles, one-half of which is practically unexplored. 



THURSTON COUNTY. 

Thurston county is bounded on the north by Mason and 
Pierce counties and the waters of Puget Sound. Its general 
character is timbered with a large amount of bottom land, much 
of which has been overflowed for years by beavers and will re- 
quire draining; it will then make the best land for grass and 
after a few years for grain and vegetables. The principal pro- 
ductions are hay and stock. The dairy also pays well. Wheat, 
oats, rye and barley are raised in some localities and potatoes, 
parsnips, beets, carrots, turnips, cabbage, etc., yield very large 
crops. It has always been supposed that corn could not be 
grown with profit in this county, but recent experiments have 
demonstrated, that on sandy land with good cultivation, it will 
pay as well, or better, than any other crop. The principal fruits 
of the county are apples, pears, plums, cherries, currants, rasp- 
berries, strawberries', etc. The red, black and blue huckleberry, 
blackberry, cranberry, sallal, salmonberry, and Oregon grape, 
grow wild in great abundance. It is considered that nearly all the 
county is fit for agricultural and grazing purposes, but a large 
amount of it will not pay for clearing for farms, until such a time 
as there will be a demand for lumber, then the timber will pay 



EESOUECES OF WASHINGTON TEEEITOEY. 49 

for the clearing. It will then be valuable land, surpassing in 
many instances, the highly cultivated land of New York and 
Ohio. The timber is fir, cedar, maple, alder and a little oak and 
white ash. There is an immense water power at Turn water, 
where are located two flouring mills, one saw-mill, one water- 
pipe manufactory, one tannery, a sash and door factory, etc., 
and there is power for an immense amount of additional machin- 
ery. At Olympia is located the capital of the Territory and the 
various U. S. offices. School and church facilities are numerous 
and the roads excellent. Steam communication with the upper 
Sound is had nearly every day and there is a daily mail with the 
East. The population of the county is 2,359; taxable property, 
$1,358,537 and an area of about 720 square miles, one-eighth 
of which is unexplored. 



LEWIS COUNTY. 

This county's boundaries are Thurston and Chehalis counties on 
the north, the Cascade Mountains on the east, Skamania, Cowlitz 
and Wahkiakum counties on the south, Wakiakum and Pacific on 
the west. Its general character is ridge and bottom lands. The 
soil is a clay and clay loam. The ridges are heavily timbered 
with cedar, fir, some alder, maple and other small timber; the 
bottoms are covered with brush, dogwood, vine maple and wild 
cherry. Wheat, oats and barley are grown here with a large 
yield when properly cultivated, and hay from two to five tons 
per acre and vegetables and fruit large and good. The N. P. K. 
E. runs through this section of the country, which with the 
Cowlitz river and tolerably good wagon roads, afford ample 
means of transportation. Churches, schools and post-offices are 
within reach of all the settlers; mails by railroad. Large bodies of 
tillable land await the settler; extensive coal fields abound; avail- 
able and well situated water-powers are numerous and yet unim- 
proved, and plenty of good timber. Chehalis is the county seat. 
Improved lands are worth from $2 50 to $40 per acre, unim- 
D 



50 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

proved from $2 50 to $5, according to location. The popula- 
tion of the county is 1.500; taxable property, $1,155,650; area 
in square miles about 1,800, probably one-half of which is un- 
explored. 



PACIFIC COUNTY. 

This county's boundaries are as follows: North by Chehalis 
county, east by Lewis and Wahkiakum, south by the Colum- 
bia river and west by the Pacific Ocean. It is the south-western 
county of the Territory, and contains a large amount of good 
land on the rivers and bays, a portion only of which is settled up, 
leaving a large quantity that is yet vacant. In the country along 
the Columbia there are several fisheries and room for hundreds 
more, a business which is rapidly increasing in importance and 
will certainly yield immense fortunes. At Centerville, on the 
Columbia, is a saw-mill which furnishes a large amount of lum- 
ber for the San Francisco markets. At Oysterville, the county 
seat, located on Shoalwater Bay, 20 miles north of the Columbia 
and on the coast, are the great oyster-beds which supply the 
Portland and San Francisco markets with this luxury. The 
oyster trade is engaged in by many of the citizens who are doing 
well and some are making fortunes in the business. Oysterville 
is a beautiful little town, with its church and school-house show- 
ing the evidences of civilization. The entrance to Shoalwater 
Bay is good, so that ships and steamers get in and out readily. 
There are quite a number of small rivers emptying into this bay, 
on which can be found good water-powers for mills of any kind. 
But little snow ever falls in this locality, the winters are mild 
and the climate not to be excelled for health. The opening for 
those who want to find homes is good, as there is a large amount 
of excellent agricultural land, vacant in the county, and Govern- 
ment land at $1 25 per acre. The taxable property of the 
county is $322,945; population, 750 and an area in square miles 
of about 550, one-quarter of which is still unexplored. 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 51 



WAHKIAKUM COUNTY. 

This county is bounded as follows: North by Lewis, west by 
Pacific county, east by Lewis and Cowlitz and south by the Colum- 
bia. A heavily timbered country, mostly hills and mountains. The 
amount fit for agriculture is very small. About all the land fit 
for cultivation is already settled. Amount in private hands, 
6,048 acres. Scarcely any improved land is sold; unimproved 
lands sell at from $2 50 to $5 00 per acre. The general pro- 
duct of the land is hay, potatoes, rutabagas, and garden vege- 
tables. Little grain is raised; potatoes yield from 200 to 300 
bushels per acre; hay, 2 to 4 tons. Timber — yellow fir, hem- 
lock, spruce, curly maple, cottonwood, cedar and alder; the tide 
lands are timbered with spruce; the uplands with all the kinds 
before mentioned. Three logging-camps are engaged in getting 
out yellow fir and spruce logs, which are towed to Portland and 
nearer points. The catching, salting and canning of salmon is 
the peculiar industry of the county. There are six canneries now 
running, which employ from 100 to 200 men each. Fully 1,000 
men and boys could get profitable employment about the can- 
neries during the months of May, June and July, if it were not 
for the Chinamen. About three-fourths of the employees are 
Chinamen, who get (at Cathlamet) $1 a day, without board. 
White men get $40 to $ 50 per month and board; wages paid to 
hay harvest hands, $2 a day and board. The poorer class of im- 
migrants could get little homes here, if they would turn fisher- 
men part of the year, and improve their lands at other times. 
Schools, four; they are all small; teachers' wages, $20 to $30 
a month and board. Only one church — Catholic — services sel- 
dom. Tri- weekly mail via the Columbia post-offices, Eagle 
Cliff, Waterford, Cathlamet and Skomokawa. Three or four 
short wagon roads leading from the claims in the Elohomon 
and Skomokawa valleys to the Columbia. A cool, healthy 
climate, good grass and water, just the thing for dairying. 
The population of this county is 600; taxable property, $172,- 
761, and the area about 360 square miles, one-fourth unexplored. 



52 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

COWLITZ COUNTY. 

This county's boundaries are as follows: North by Lewis 
and Wahkiakum counties, east by Skamania, south by Clark and 
the Columbia river and west by Wahkiakum. It is one of the tier 
of counties lying on the Columbia river, of which Kalama (the 
southern terminus of the Northern Pacific Kailroad in Wash- 
ington Territory) is the county seat. It is well located, having 
the benefit of the Columbia, Cowlitz and Lewis rivers and the 
Northern Pacific Kailroad, making it convenient for farmers and 
business men, as they can get in and out at all times with their 
produce and merchandise. There is a great amount of good land 
in the county, much of which is yet vacant. The farmers are 
doing well in producing grain, vegetables and hay, and in raising 
stock. Cattle, sheep, hogs and horses thrive here and increase 
rapidly. This part of the country abounds in good timber, and 
among its exports beside wheat, oats, hay, potatoes, beef, mutton 
and pork, are lumber and maple knots. It has a long water-front 
on the Columbia river, and this will greatly enrich the county, 
as salmon are very abundant and easily secured. The class of 
immigrants most likely to succeed here would be industrious and 
hard-working farmers. Besides Kalama, Monticello and Free- 
port are towns of some importance. The population of the 
county is 2,000, taxable property, $644,259; area 1,100 square 
miles, about one-fourth of which is unexplored. 



CLARKE COUNTY. 

This county is bounded on the north by Cowlitz, east by Ska- 
mania and south and west by the Columbia river. The general 
character of the county is timbered, interspersed with openings 
and small prairies. Nearly all the land is fit for cultivation and 
the price of that already improved ranges from $10 to $20 per 
acre. The timber is fir, cedar, maple, hemlock, oak and ash. 
The county is fast filling up with an honest, hearty and indus- 
trious set of people. It has already a population of 900 voters 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 53 

and room for many more, though no one need to go there who is 
afraid of hard work. Wheat, oats, barley, rye, in fact all kinds 
of cereals, natural to a temperate climate, yield largely. School 
and church facilities are excellent and the wagon roads are said 
to he the best of any in the country west of the Cascade Moun- 
tains. There are several saw and grist mills here and room for 
more. Vancouver is the county seat and is a town of about 
1,000 inhabitants. The whole population of the county is 3,584, 
taxable property amounts to $679,008 and an area of 725 square 
miles. 



SKAMANIA COUNTY. 

This county is bounded on the north by Lewis and Yakima 
counties, east by Yakima and Klickitat, south by Klickitat 
and west by Clarke, Cowlitz and Lewis. A greater part 
of it lies in the Cascade Mountains and on the Colum- 
bia river and is therefore rough, with but very little good 
farming land except on the river banks, which is mostly taken 
up. All kinds of grain can be raised, but grass and pasturage 
for cattle are the principal products and the county is well tim- 
bered, principally with fir. Six miles of railroad connect the 
upper and lower Cascades, over which all the freight which goes 
to Eastern Oregon, or up and down the Columbia river, must 
pass. Handling freight, cutting and hauling wood, keeping the 
railroad in repair, making butter and stock-raising are the prin- 
cipal industries. There are four school districts in the county 
and about eighty scholars. No churches or ministers. There is 
a daily mail carried by steamer and a wagon road from the Cas- 
cades to Clarke county and thence to the outside world. From 
the upper Cascades to the Dalles there is no road; travel is by 
trail and with boats. Eight or ten families have recently moved 
into the lower end of the county and there is still land enough 
for a good sized settlement. The population of the county is 
166, taxable property, $124,911, and area about 2,300 square 
miles, three-fourths of which is unexplored. 



54 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 



KLICKITAT COUNTY. 

The boundaries of this county are as follows: North by Yak- 
ima and Skamania, west by Skamania and south and east by the 
Columbia river. This county is in a good financial condition, 
being nearly out of debt and having a large school fund in pro- 
portion to the number of persons of school age. The soil is gen- 
erally good, crop prospects good and a larger amount of acreage 
planted than ever before. The Klickitat valley is 20 by 30 miles 
in extent and is covered with a luxuriant growth of grass upon 
which stock keep fat eight or ten months of the year. Only a 
small portion of it is as yet settled and hundreds of claims await 
occupants. The Simcoe Mountains are covered with an inex- 
haustible supply of timber, principally pine, oak and fir. There 
are seven settlements in this valley alone, each having a school 
from six to eight months of the year. There are also two or 
three dry goods stores and several saw mills and blacksmith 
shops. Groceries and supplies can be had in the county at a 
small advance on Portland prices. The taxable property is 
$275,404, population 900, and area about 2,088 square miles, 
probably one-half of which is unexplored. 



WALL A- WALL A COUNTY. 

Walla- walla is bounded on the north by Whitman county, 
east by Columbia County, south by Oregon and west by the 
Columbia and Snake rivers. The climate is mild and healthy, 
the water excellent and abundant and the soil adapted to the 
production of grains, vegetables and fruits, such as are common 
to a temperate zone. This county is claimed to have produced 
more wheat in proportion, than any other in the United States; 
the whole crop of 1875 averaged 35 bushels to the acre. Several 
localities yielded as high as 57 bushels to the acre, one ten-acre 
field 85 to the acre, and one field of 150 acres produced 5,250 — 
an average of 35 bushels, and this was a volunteer crop. Bunch 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 55 

grass covers the land not fit for grain, being very nutritious and 
plentiful during the entire year. Cattle for beef receive no other 
feed. The county is well adapted for wool-growing and both 
cattle and sheep are healthy and increase rapidly. There are a 
few weeks of hot and dusty weather in July, with the thermom- 
eter from 90 deg. to 105 deg., from one to three weeks of windy 
weather during the year, and a little freezing weather in Winter, 
but not more than one year in eight or ten, is it necessary to feed 
and shelter stock. Churches and schools are numerous, and the 
tone of society is moral. Walla-walla, the county seat, is the 
largest town in the Territory and a place of much importance. 
"The taxable property of the county amounts to $1,992,065; 
number of square miles about 1,600, and the population in the 
vicinity of 5,000. 



WHITMAN COUNTY. 

The boundaries of this county are Idaho Territory on the 
east, Walla- walla county, on the south, Columbia river on the 
west, and Stevens county on the north. It is principally rolling 
prairies with some hills and valleys. The valleys are not large 
but numerous, and the soil first-class. At least two-thirds of 
the entire area of the county is susceptible of cultivation and no 
county in the world is better watered. Not one-tenth of the 
arable land is yet taken or occupied. Improved lands may be 
bought at from $3 to $10 per acre, according to locality and 
amount of improvements. Great numbers of horses, cattle and 
sheep are raised here. Oats., wheat and barley, and in some lo- 
calities corn, make a good crop and potatoes, turnips, carrots 
and other vegetables yield enormously. Flax, also is being sown 
to some extent. The timber of the county is confined principal- 
ly to the streams and mountains and consists of cedar, larch, 
sugar pine, white pine, yew and some maple. The county has 
regularly organized school districts and school-houses are built as 
settlements require. At Colfax, the county seat, a flourishing 
school is established where all the higher English branches are 



56 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

taught, beside ancient and modern languages. Mail facilities are 
good, roads superior and the healthfullness of the county is re- 
markable. Two flour-mills and a saw-mill are doing a flourish- 
ing business here. The taxable property of the county is $376,- 
887; the population is about 1,234 and the area, 4,300 square 
miles. 



YAKIMA COUNTY. 

Yakima county is bounded on the north by Stevens county, 
east by the Columbia river, south by Klickitat county and west 
by the Cascade Mountains. The general course of the Yakima 
river is from north-west to south-east. At the mouth of the 
river there are some fine farms well adapted to grass or small 
grain. From this point to Cock's Ferry the country is very 
broken ; back from the river a short distance the hills are covered 
with fine grass, but water is very scarce. A short distance from 
Cock's Ferry, and lying on the west side of the river, is the 
south-eastern boundary of the Simcoe Reservation, containing 
an area of twenty-five square miles of the best land on the river. 
The bluffs on the east side approach very near, and in many 
places quite to the river. The Tiatan river forms the northern 
boundary of the Reservation ; it runs from west to east and emp- 
ties into the Yakima river, at Yakima City. There is quite a 
large settlement on the river and many good farms. From Yak- 
ima City to the Natches river, the country is generally of second 
quality sage land, with a few pretty good farms on the river. 
Crossing the Natches you enter Selah valley, which is one of the 
most fertile in the county, though not large, containing probably, 
two or three sections of land. The Wenas creek runs from the 
north and empties into it, about three miles above the mouth of 
the Natches and on this stream there is quite an extensive valley 
of good land and many good farms. Leaving the Wenas, for 
twenty or thirty miles the land is very rolling and poor, until you 
reach the Kittitas valley, which is the largest body of good land 
except the Reservation, and this, like the Wenas valley, is settled 



RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 57 

by an agricultural population, and "but for the heavy falls of snow 
it would be a very desirable country, being surrounded by low 
hills, covered with very fine pine timber. From this valley, the 
mountains set in and there is but little farming land above. For 
a reasonable amount of stock, Yakima county is a fine stock 
country in its present state, and by a provision for the winter, its 
capacity could be much extended. The population of this county 
is 1,200; taxable property, $413,167; area in square miles, 
9,225. 



STEVENS COUNTY. 

The boundaries of this county are British Columbia on the 
north, the Bitter Root Mountains on the east, separating it from 
Idaho Territory, Whitman and Yakima counties on the south 
and the Cascade Mountains on the west. This county has some 
fertile and some very poor land. The Spokane plains are an ex- 
tensive valley, a portion of which is rich land and covered with a 
heavy growth of very nutritious grass. The west side of the val- 
ley is bounded by very high and often steep bluffs, running to the 
Spokane river, and from this point to the head of Colville valley, 
the country is very poor, except that it has a dense growth of 
fine pine timber. Colville valley is entered at the head of a 
stream called Mill creek, which flows westward to old Fort Col- 
ville. This valley is capable of supporting several thousand per- 
sons, though some seasons it is rather frosty. It was originally 
settled by the Hudson Bay Company's servants, but they have 
gradually given place to Americans who have made extensive 
farms, and large crops of wheat, oats and barley are raised. The 
land on the south side of the Spokane river is of a very dark, rich 
loam and would support a large population, but occasionally 
crickets are troublesome here. Snow falls here to a greater depth 
than on the Colville side of the river. This part of Washington 
Territory is the most extensive grass-growing region and cannot 
for many years be overstocked. When the timber is left on the 
Spokane river, no more grass is found for several hundred miles, 



58 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

except limited quantities on the small streams. The area of this 
county, the largest in the Territory, is about 36,000 square 
miles, larger than Maine, and about as large as Kentucky. 
Three-fourths of this is unexplored. The population is 1,200, 
and taxable property, $253,526 50. 



COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

This county has just been set apart from Walla Walla by the 
Legislature of this year (1875). It is bounded on the north by 
Whitman county, east by Idaho Territory, south by Oregon and 
west by Walla Walla county. Dayton is the principal town and 
county seat and is a flourishing settlement. Here also is located 
the only woolen mill in the Territory, which manufactures 200,- 
000 pounds of wool per year, to the value of between $50,000 
and $60,000. The climate is healthy and a large proportion of 
the soil is suitable for the production of all the grains, vegetables 
and fruits usually found in a temperate zone. Bunch grass is 
found upon the land not suitable for cultivation, and all kinds of 
stock thrive upon it, during the entire year. Not more than one 
winter in ten is it found necessary to feed or shelter stock. 
Church and school facilities are excellent. The population of 
the county is estimated at 3,000, and the taxable property at 
),000. The area in square miles is about 2,000. 



THE PRESS OF THE TERRITORY. 

There are fourteen newspapers published in the Territory, a 
fact which will give to the reader some idea of the intelligence 
and enterprise of the people, At Olympia, the capital, there are 
four weeklies and one daily issued, viz.: The Washington Stand- 
ard, John Miller Murphy, editor and proprietor; weekly and 
Democratic in politics. The Olympia Transcript, E. T. Grunn, 
editor and proprietor; weekly and Independent in politics. The 
Puget Sound Courier, C. B. Bagley & Co., publishers; weekly 
and Kepublican in politics. The Morning Echo and Weekly 
Echo, Francis H. Cook, editor and proprietor; temperance in 
politics. 

At Seattle, there are issued three weeklies and two dailies, 
viz.: Puget Sound Dispatch, daily and weekly, Beriah Brown & 
Co., publishers; Independent Kepublican in politics. The Paci- 
fic Tribune, daily and weekly, Thomas Prosch, editor and pro- 
prietor; Kepublican in politics. 

At Steilacoom one weekly paper is published: The Puget 
Sound Express, Julius Dickens, editor and proprietor; Republi- 
can in politics. 

At Port Townsend one newspaper, the Port Townsend Argus, 
C. W. Philbrick, editor and publisher, weekly and Republican in 
politics, is published. 



60 RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 

At Whatcom one newspaper, the Bellingham Bay Mail, 
James Power, editor and publisher, weekly and Republican in 
politics, is published. 

At Vancouver is issued the Vancouver Independent, W. 
Byron Daniels, editor; weekly and Independent in politics. 

At Walla Walla, there are three papers published, viz. : The 
Spirit of the West, B. M. Washburne, editor; semi- weekly and 
Independent in politics. The Walla Walla Union, R. M. Smith 
& Co., publishers; weekly and Republican in politics. The 
Walla Walla Statesman, W. H. Newell, editor and proprietor; 
weekly and Independent in politics. 

It will be observed that politics of every shade is here repre- 
sented, and thus every man may rejoice in and support an organ 
advocating his own political faith. 



BEST ROUTES TO WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 



To reach Western Washington, the best, cheapest and most 
direct route for the immigrant, is by the Central and Union Pa- 
cific Railroads to San Francisco, and thence by sailing vessel or 
steamer to Puget Sound ports. Goodall, Nelson & Perkins and 
the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. are now running lines of steamers 
to the Sound at reduced rates, the numerous lumber ships of the 
Sound are constantly plying between its ports and San Fran- 
cisco, and all of them carry passengers and freight, giving good 
accomodations. 

To those who desire to reach Eastern Washington from parts as 
far east as Omaha, we would say that if they have teams of horses 
and wagons, and families, the best way is to come across the 
plains, in their own conveyances, provided they start early. There 
is plenty of grass and water, and no long dry drives now, as 
there used to be before the railroad was built. But for those 
starting late, or those having but small families, perhaps it would 
be as well to come by rail. Those not wishing to pay for first- 
class accommodation on the cars had better purchase through 
tickets at Omaha for San Francisco, either second or third class, 



RESOUKCES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 61 

and, when they reach Salt Lake, they can sell them at a pre- 
mium, and purchase suitable conveyance, or else come on the 
stage, or on a passenger wagon. But, in no instance, would we 
advise persons bringing their own teams, to ship them by rail for 
any distance, except perhaps they should start very late in the 
season. 

Those desiring to come from California will ot course take the 
steamer at San Francisco, and have a safe and easy passage to 
Portland, when they must not pay too much attention to those 
who would attempt to lure them up the Willamette valley, which 
district annually sends us hundreds of immigrants. From Port- 
land they can come up to Wallula, by steamboat at half fare, and 
from the latter point they can come on up to Walla Walla by 
stage or wagon now, or if they wait a short time they can come 
on the cars. When once here, we can assure the immigrant that 
he will be well treated, and will be furnished with all needful in- 
formation concerning the country, in order to enable him to select 
his future abode. 



FINIS. 



Erratum.— On page U, 8th line, for 800,000 read 80,000. 



Page. 

General Sketch 5 

Western Washington 7 

Healthfullness of Climate 10 

Productions 10 

Average Rain Fall 11 

Commerce and Manufactures 11 

Shipping 14 

Mineralogy 15 

Forests 15 

Flora 17 

Fish 18 

Animals 19 

Birds 20 

Reptiles 22 

Mountains 22 

Harbors 23 

Rivers 25 

Lakes , 28 

Lands 29 

Schools and School Laws 31 

Public Buildings 32 

Railroads 32 

Indians 32 

Notes to Immigrants 33 

Rates of Wages ■. 35 

Description by Counties 37 

Whatcom 39 

San Juan 40 

Island 40 

Snohomish 41 

Clallam 42 

Jefferson 43 

Eitsao • 44 



64 INDEX. 

King 44 

Mason 45 

Chehalis 46 

Pierce 47 

Thurston 48 

Lewis 49 

Pacific 50 

Wahkiakum 51 

Cowlitz 52 

Clarke 52 

Skamania 53 

Klickitat 54 

Walla-walla 54 

Whitman 55 

Yakima 56 

Stevens .57 

Columbia 58 

The Press of the Territory 59 

Best Routes to Washington Territory 60 



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